Coal-dust-feed mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I //Y VEN Tag M 4170mm- E. S. SALYARDS COAL DUST FEED MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1925 z Z a d w \\|\l I m% m-\-\\ Q J E w I W I M /,ww. a w W u q n H 0 0 M 0 mu 0000 I! \r, 5- ll Oct. 18, 1927.

v @W'M 91mm Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

1,645,932 PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER S. SALYARDS, OF MOLILNE, ILLINOIS.

COAL-DUST-FEED MECHANISM.

Application filed November 12, 1925.

My invention has reference to an apparatus for feeding powdered fuel, such as coal dust, into a stove or furnace, it having been demonstrated that when said dust is injected in the form of a spray, and when mixed with a quantity of air, it is in a very combustible form, and burns with an excessive amount of heat. The chief purpose of the present invention is to produce a device for handling and injecting the powdered fuel which possesses a. great degree of efficiency.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a novel means for regulating the feed of the material, so as to increase or diminsh the same, as desired.

' Another object thereof is to provide a receptacle, or magazine for the material of a novel form, provided with means for a constant movement of the material while the machine is in operation, and which magazine is removable from the machine, so that two or more of such magazines can be used, one of which is being filled while the other is in use.

Another purpose of the invention is to keep the material tightly enclosed while in the machine, so that the fine powder will not escape, and permeate the atmosphere surrounding the machine.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine, with the magazine removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, with some of the parts broken away.

Fig. 3 shows the machine in vertical sec tion.

Fig. 4: is a cross-section, on the broken line 44; of Fig. 3. i

, The reference number 1 indicates a bedplate, upon which is mounted a rotary fan 2, of usual construction, with which is connected a discharge pipe 8, fitted with a nozzle 1, designed to be inserted in the casing of a furnace, a fragmentary part of which is shown at 5. The fan is operated by means of a motor 6, through a drive-shaft 7 Supported adjacent to the fan 2 is a casing 9, communicating with said fan through an opening 10 in the walls of the casing and fan. (Fig. In the upper part of said casing is a cross-piece 11, supporting an endless chain 12, passing round a pair of wheels Serial No. 68,551.

13 on shafts 1d and 15 rotatably mounted 1n the casing 9. The shaft 1 1 is projected beyond the casing in a bearing 16, and on the outer end of said shaft is fixed a fric- U011 disk 17, engaged by an idler disk 18, driven by a disk 19 on one end of a shaft 20, ournalled in bearings 21 supported from the fan casing. The shaft 20 is parallel with the shaft 7, and adapted to be driven there from by means of a gear-wheel 22 on the shaft 20 and gear-pinion 23 on the shaft 7 1n mesh with said wheel. The idler disk 18 is supported on a rod 25, so as to rotate freely thereon, the upper part of said shaft being threaded and passing through an openlng 1n the upper end of a support 26, mounted. on the bed-plate 1. The rod 25 is held in place by a pair of set-nuts 27 and 28, on opposite sides of the support 26. The lower end of the rod 25 is formed into a fork 29 held slidably in channelled portions of the bearing 16.

By means of the last-named mechanism the movement of the shaft 7 is imparted to the shaft 14, causing a movement of the chain 12 along the cross-piece 11 toward the inner end thereof. The relative size of the wheels 22 and 23 and of the disks 1?, 18, and 19 is such that the shaft 14- is caused to rotate at a greatly reduced rate of speed, and the movement of the chain 12 is correspond ingly slow. By a proper adjusment of the nuts 27 and 28 the position. of the disk 18 may be shifted outwardly or inwardly, as desired, causing a proportionate decrease or increase in the speed of the disk 17, and of the chain 12, for the purposes hereinafter pointed out. A constant operating contact of the train of disk wheels is compelled b -means of a coiled spring 30 on the shaft 20,

between the hub of the disk 19 and bearing Supported on the casing 9 is a hopper 32, the lower part of which is funnel shaped, and ends in a foot 33, which fits between side flanges of the casing. The hopper may be otherwise braced to prevent its upsetting. In the lower end of the hopper, just above the chain 12, is an opening 84, permitting material in the hopper to pass downwardly onto the chain, which operates in a channel 35, formed partly in the upper face of the cross-piece 11, and partly in the lower face of the foot 83. Fine material of the kind hereinbefore mentioned which is fed downwardly onto the chain is carried along thereby until itreaches an opening 36 in the part 11, through which it passes, and is then drawn through the opening into the fan by a current of air coming from the open 5 end 37 of the casing 9. The combined dust and air is then forced through the pipe 3 and dispersed into the furnace in agas-like combustible volume. The amount of air which is mixed with the powdered material in may be controlled by means of a shutter 38 hinged at one side of the open end of: the casing.

In the lower part of the hopper 32 is a cone 4-0, provided with one or more open- !5 ingsll, and rotatably mounted centrally ol said coneis a vertical shattatfl; to which iixeda cone-shapedshutter L3, having one or more openings 44, adapted to register with the opening ll upon the shaft 42 being rotated. On the upper end oi? the shaft L2 is a bevel -gear wheel 45,.in mesh with a similar wheel 4l6-tixed on a shaft 4 rotatablyi mounted in, the upper part of the hopper. ()none end of said shaft is a sprocketwheel 48, (broken lines) connected by a sprocket chain 4 9 with a similar wheel 50 on the end of the shactt'QO. 'lVhen said shaft is inoperationamovement is thereby imparted to the shaft- L2, to cause a continuous rotation thereof. 'Fixed in the shaft -12 are rods 51, which stir the material in the hop- .per, and prevents the packing thereo't. The enclo'f theshatt below the cone 40 is provided with rods 52 for a similar purpose. The 3 top 901"? the hopper is closed by a. cover 53.

The hopper serves as. areceptacle, or magazine, capable of holding a considerable quantity of powidered coal, or similar material, whichis tedgradually downward to 40 .andintothe casing: 9, wherein it is deliveredwto the-fan in the manner hereinbefore described. The amount or material that is sfed llltOutllO tan is determined by the speed 01' the chain 12, and as hereinbelfore set "forth, the speed'ot said chain can he regulated by an adjustment of the position of the idler disk 18.

:By; reason: of the hopper 32 being remev- .ablyxmountedinthe machine it is possible to make use of two or more of such receptacles, one of which is charged while the other is in use. In removing a hopper from themachine it is necessary to first discon nnect the chainAl-Qyand replace it on a simi- 55 lar wheel 48: on the other hopper, it being of course necessary to duplicate the internal mechanism of the hopper in all of the receptaeles At such time as the hopper is being -fi'lled the shutter .43 is. turned to a position vt0;close:theropeningslin. the cone 40. The

cone and shutter mechanism not only pro vide a constant feed for the umterialwhen the machine is in operation, but they form a guard tor the lower end of the hopper, preventing the material being packed thercin by the weight ol the main body thereof, so as to become inunovahlc. The space below the cone Forms a separate tteed chamber.

It will he observed that the tan mechanism and feed devices are in close relation, so thatthere is a direct delivery of the material to the tan. The parts are also compact. and fully enclosed, reducing the danger of escape of the dust to a ll'lllllllllllll. By means o'li the machine. herein shown and set forth it is possible to malte use of: a relatively cheapciass of fuel in the production ol heat.

What I claim. and desire to secure by Letlers Patent, is:

1. In a device Oil the lass described, a rotary tan and drive-she" therefor, a casing connected with said an and opening directly into thesame, a supportin said casing having a restricted vein in proximitv to such opening. a hopper provided with a plate adapted to rest on said support, said plate and support havinga common channel. into which said hopper opens..a continuous chain mechanism operating in said clannel, and means lor driving said chain at a reduced rate of speed.

53. it device of the class described, comprising a caslng and eiullcss ronveyorllor powdered material therein, a. magazine for powdered material renlovably supported on said casing, in position to i'lischarge its contents into said casing. an intermittent teed mechanism in the lower part oil said magazine. capable oil beiu-Q,- closed when the magazine is detached from the machine,

1310:1118 for operating said endless conveyor,

and means to. actuating said teed mechanism coincidcntly with the operation thereof.

In a device of the class described, an enclosed inagga azine tor powdered ituel having a tunnels iaped lower portion and discharge opening therefrom. a cone-shaped shell in the lower part of said magazine, provided with one or more passages, a rotating shutter for said shell, and means tor the ope. t'tion thereof, agitating devices in said magaxine. abovi and below said shell, and a convevor mcclnmisnrfor the contents of said ma azine, adapted for attachn'ient to the lower end thereof.

in testimony whereof l :illix my signae ture.

ELMER E. t lALYAllDS. 

